My Washer Has a Loud Buzzing Noise and Won't Do the Rinse Cycle

Detergent Overload

• If you put more detergent into your washing machine than what’s required for a certain wash load size, the washer could end up with more suds than it can effectively drain. Depending on your washer, the washer might pause for a minute or two to give more time for suds to drain after the official drain cycle ends. If at the end of this period, your washer is still filled with suds, the washer might pause indefinitely and buzz, forgoing the rinse cycle entirely. Add 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 quart of warm water to your washer. The solution will help dissolve the excess suds, so you can reset the wash cycle to finish running.

Clogged Drain Outlet

• It’s possible that a small laundry item or object is covering the drain outlet and is preventing the washing machine from draining. Unless the washing machine can drain, it won’t be able to transition to the next wash cycle. The buzzing noise is probably the washer letting you know its drain outlet is obstructed. Contact a washing machine repair technician to verify a clog exists, and remove it if one is found.

Frozen Pump

• A washer’s pump pushes water out of the washtub and down the drain when it’s working properly. If the pump breaks or freezes, it won’t be able to move the water out of the washtub, and it might cause the washer to buzz. The buzzing noise is the washer’s way of alerting you that one of its components has failed. Since the washer is still filled with water, it won’t advance to the rinse cycle, which would cause it to overflow. Contact a washing machine repair technician to have your washer serviced. The technician will be able to tell you whether the pump has malfunctioned.

Error Codes

• Error codes for washing machines often differ based on which manufacturer produced your washing machine, according to Repair Clinic. Refer to your washer’s manual for a list of error codes that will help you diagnose your washing machine’s problem. To stop the buzzing noise and clear the display, hit “Pause,” “Stop” or “Cancel” twice after you’ve confirmed what the issue is. Address the problem or make the repair. Once the issue is corrected, restart the washing machine for a full cycle setting.